May give that a go, big thing is finding somebody with equipment that wants to mess with it now.
I can rent a mini-excavator in my area that is small enough to be towed by a 1/2-ton pickup, but still has a maximum digging depth sufficient for your project.
The compaction will be a little tougher. I am a big guy, but getting old. I can still run a vibratory plate compactor by myself on level ground (barely). I recently ran a jumping jack compactor on uneven ground and that was beyond my capabilities after a few clay lifts. Two guys, or a big son by himself would help you greatly on the compaction.
The mini-ex is easy to learn to operate. I put my wife in the seat a while back and told her she would be able to put the bucket teeth in the exact toothmarks showing from the previous bucket. Three scoops later she was doing it.
If not DIY, than maybe you can get some construction guys over before they really get going in the spring on their main business jobs.
